A Guide to Broken Garage Door Springs

We often forget how hard our garage doors work. Every day, they open and close at least twice - usually more than that. It stands to reason that their components experience a fair amount of wear and tear and need repair or replacement on a regular basis. This is especially true of garage door springs. Broken garage door springs are perhaps the most common garage door problem that homeowners will have to deal with. Here is what you need to know about dealing with broken garage door springs. 

Garage door springs break for a number of reasons. They may collect rust over time, which affects their structural integrity and flexibility. They become brittle and ultimately snap. However, in most cases, the reason for the break is overuse. The average torsion spring in a garage door will break after about 10,000 uses. This amounts to about 13 years of usage, which means you get pretty decent use out of each spring. When your springs finally do go, however, what should you do about it?

Can You Repair It Yourself?

We would not advise anyone to attempt to replace their garage door springs themselves. This is because door springs hold an incredible amount of tension. They have to do so in order to hold the weight of a garage door. When you remove the spring, you release this high pressure. If this is not done correctly, the spring is often released at an incredible speed. If it then hits you or anyone standing in your garage, serious injuries - possibly even fatal ones - could result. It is best to leave the job to a professional who knows exactly how to remove and handle springs.

How To Determine If The Springs Need To Be Replaced

There are several key signs to look out for, which will tell you if your springs need to be replaced.

• You hear the door opener straining when you open the door. If the opener makes a squealing or strangled noise when you open or close the door, your springs may be on their way out.
• The door slams suddenly. If the door closes when it should normally be held open, it’s a strong sign that the springs are nearly exhausted.
• The door feels heavier. The springs carry the weight of the door. If one of them has snapped, it means that it can’t carry its portion of the door’s mass. So, if the door feels heavier, you are probably looking at a broken spring.
• The door won’t stop in the mid-level position. If you try to raise the door to the mid-level manually, and it keeps creeping up or falling down, it could mean that the torsion springs are wearing out.
• You hear a popping noise when the door is closed. When the door is in the closed position, and you hear a loud popping noise coming from it, you have probably just heard one of the springs breaking.

How Much Does It Cost To Get It Replaced?

The average door spring replacement costs about $200. The spring itself is not costly, but the replacement can take time, which means that the hourly labor costs make up the majority of the bill.

Tri-Lakes Garage Doors specializes in the installation and repair of custom garage doors and wooden garage doors. We serve homes and businesses all along the Front Range. If you need a new garage door, or repairs and maintenance services on your current door, including broken garage door springs,contact us today.